Sadly, Switken Packs Up, Leaves Broward Job She Loved

In her final moments as Broward County`s tourism director, June Switken glanced around her office. She had stuffed all her plaques and personal items into cardboard boxes strewn on the floor.

Now it was time to go.

Her desk emptied, the white walls around her bare, there was no chance that she would change her mind.

Was she acting too quickly? Why end a six-year career with the Tourist Development Council, the last three as director, so abruptly?

It was shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday. More than an hour before, Switken had called council staff member Rosetta Williams to pick her up at her nearby home in Fort Lauderdale. She wanted out, and quickly.

The two of them gathered Switken`s belongings and loaded the sagging boxes into the back of a county car. Several copies of the council`s pink and gray poster stuck out the back. It pictured a sailboat amid waterfront homes. Switken liked that poster; she thought it portrayed the kind of sophisticated place she was proud to be promoting.

Only a few boxes remained.

Switken leaned on her desk. The scene was almost eerie. Earlier in the day, she had attended a meeting in Miami. And the previous day, she had carefully explained the proposed new advertising plan that would, for the first time, promote the area to people who live in the Western United States.

She reached for a roll of toilet paper, tore off a piece, and dabbed her eyes.

``Of course, I am very sad,`` she said. ``But I am also very insulted.``

She talked about all her hard work developing a long-range marketing plan and her sincere efforts in promoting the county. To her, greater Fort Lauderdale was really a magnificent place to visit and live. And the Tourist Development Council, with all its silly policies and governmental hassles, remained a wonderful place to work.

But June Switken could not accept the way she had been treated. In a meeting with County Administrator Lex Hester on Sept. 2, she said she offered to take a job where she could use her marketing talents. She wouldn`t be burdened by the administrative headaches, and the pressure from county officials and the tourist industry would be alleviated.

Hester thought an immediate change was necessary. He believed Switken agreed to that.

She said she never contemplated leaving her post for at least another one to 1 1/2 years, in time to start marketing a county convention center.

So when Hester sent his assistant, Phyllis Korab, to show Switken the advertisement for a new director, she was hurt and insulted. Switken said she had one choice: Remain director until a replacement was chosen and then take the marketing position.

To her, that was tantamount to being fired. Quitting was the only option. She didn`t even have time to tell her family.

``I will never come back to this job,`` she said. ``Not the way they have treated me.``

For someone accustomed to treating people with dignity, this was unforgivable. She couldn`t understand what appeared to be a cruel slap in the face.

But what if it had been a mistake? Had she over-reacted?

No, she had been around too long not to know what had happened. The best thing would be to put it all behind her.

Would she allow a picture? The photographer had waited patiently outside for 45 minutes.

She reluctantly agreed. Even now, when she just wanted to be alone, she knew that she had to stay in the limelight for a few more minutes.

So she composed herself and managed a smile.

Then she went home.

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Before Gov. Bob Martinez called for a repeal of Florida`s services tax, employees at The Breakers in Palm Beach launched a letter writing campaign to state legislators.

A hotel official said 578 employees signed individual letters expressing concern over the adverse effect on convention business.